NEW YORK — Jan 19, 2026 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, said on Monday it has developed a new digital platform for trading and settling tokenized securities, marking a significant step toward round-the-clock equity markets.
The platform, which will be operated by the NYSE pending regulatory approvals, is designed to support 24/7 trading, instant on-chain settlement, dollar-denominated order sizing, and stablecoin-based funding, ICE said.
The move comes as global investor demand for continuous access to U.S. equities accelerates, driven by international participation and advances in financial technology.
Blockchain Infrastructure Meets Traditional Markets
ICE’s initiative highlights how established exchange operators are increasingly exploring blockchain-based infrastructure to address long-standing inefficiencies in equity trading, such as delayed settlement times and limited market hours.
“Tokenization is not a fad. It is a technology that solves problems,” said Campbell Harvey, a finance professor at Duke University. “There’s a long list of possibilities it opens up.”
He added that tokenized stocks represent one of the most immediate and practical applications of the technology.
Extended Trading Gains Momentum Across Wall Street
Regulators have gradually opened the door to longer trading hours as investor appetite for nonstop markets has grown. Nasdaq, home to many of the world’s largest technology companies, is seeking approval to allow stocks to trade 23 hours a day, five days a week, source reported previously.
Major brokerages including Robinhood and Charles Schwab, along with exchange operator Cboe Global Markets, have already expanded stock trading hours in recent years.
ICE said it is working with financial institutions such as BNY and Citigroup to support tokenized deposits, a key component of enabling seamless funding and settlement on the new platform.
Market Impact & Outlook
Analysts say tokenized securities could significantly reshape capital markets by improving liquidity, reducing settlement risk, and making U.S. stocks more accessible to global investors. If approved, ICE’s platform would place the NYSE at the forefront of the push toward always-on financial markets.
